3x3 basketball: the sport's youngest Olympic discipline
Sep 4, 2026 · 19:15
One hoop, ten minutes, one and two points - 3x3 has become a separate sport with its own rules.
3x3 basketball grew out of street basketball but is now an independent Olympic discipline with its own world ranking and professional circuit.
The basic rules
Games are played at a single hoop on half a court, with three players per team and one substitute. A match lasts ten minutes or until one team reaches 21 points, whichever comes first. Teams have twelve seconds to attack, which produces an extremely fast rhythm.
Scoring
The traditional two-point shot is worth one point here, while an attempt from behind the arc is worth two. Free throws are worth one. The maths is therefore different: two big shots can bring a team back at any moment.
Why did it become popular?
Because it is cheap and quick to set up: one hoop and a hard surface are enough. Games are short, venues are typically urban spaces, and the atmosphere is closer to a festival than a traditional sports hall.
The logic of the ranking
In 3x3 not only national teams but individual players have rankings, and a country's score is built from the individual points of its best players. That is why a small nation can reach major events if it has a few outstanding players competing regularly.